ASSIGNMENT 2: ARTICLE ANALYSIS

[Atthachai Khongkamnoed]

Hi Connor,
The contrast between promoting a democracy with freedom of speech and the laws of Lèse-Majesté where you cannot critisize the monarchy is quite interesting. Is there a possibility for both of these concepts to thrive within one country? What if the monarchy and the population could coexist peacefully with no need for senseless violent criticisms which could potentially spiral into protests and crackdowns. Can constructive discussions exist in between freedom of speech and Lèse-Majesté where neither side has to reach an outburst of emotions?

• This reply was modified 2 years, 10 months ago by Atthachai Khongkamnoed.

[Issy Lucas]

Standards of beauty in Thailand: White skin, injections and diet

I find this article very interesting as it is discussing the different beauty standards that Thai people have when compared to our more western beauty standards. As a young person who is constantly bombarded on social media by the different looks and styles I am “supposed” to have, I find it very interesting just how extreme the different standards are, and although I respect their different traditions and values, some of the practises are unhealthy, such as being so slim, undereating and using or abusing harmful chemicals. The article mentions the different values that being thin has, where even those who are less thin than others, or are overweight, will potentially be treated differently as such, something which I find heart-breaking because in our won culture, this is so discouraged and a lot of the posts I see on social media now are much more body-positive. It is a shame that people in different cultures are made to feel a certain way because of how they look.

However, after reading this article I do have a new insight as to how much more respectful I will need to be when travelling through the country and when engaging with the locals. While I have been before to Thailand, I mainly went travelling around the touristy destinations, and down south, where I would often be wearing a bikini. Now that I am so aware of how disrespectful It is; I will make a big effort to always follow their rules and respect their different standards even if I struggle to understand them, but will still make the effort to allow any children I teach to embrace their bodies so that they can gain better self-images and have a more well-rounded mental health.

[Issy Lucas]

Hi Kate,
I think it is a great idea that you want to implement new leaning systems for when you will spend time teaching in Thailand, especially when teaching English, with it being such a sought after skill in this day and age, there will be valuable ;lessons gained and maintained through using different learning and teaching styles. It is especially nice to know that we do not need to employ expensive new technologies to do this, and instead we can build on the gadgets we already have but utilise more of the free or low cost alternatives that can be equally as useful for the children. I also agree that in the times we live in, it is vital that we stay up to date with the ever improving technologies so it would be a great shout to utilise this aspect too. I will be sure to take this into consideration too, when I am teaching!

[Rebecca Oxley]

‘Time of new hope’: Optimism is high for Bangkok pride after Thai elections
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jun/03/optimism-is-high-for-bangkok-pride-after-thai-elections
In an election in May, Thai voters rejected Praytuh Chan-ocha, who has ruled the country for nine years, in favour of opposition parties promising reform including greater LGBTQ+ rights. Many are hopeful this may lead to the legalisation of same sex marriage, bringing the legal position in Thailand up to speed with the generally accepting and inclusive attitude of its people. ‘Move Forward’, which is the most progressive party, won the most seats in the last election as a result of the work of powerful youth groups. That said, the article points out that Move Forward has not yet succeeded in taking office, and could still be blocked by military-appointed senators.
This article is important to me, as someone travelling to Thailand, as it represents an important step towards an improvement in attitudes to inclusion and diversity throughout the country, particularly in relation to sexuality and gender. It also shows the importance of the right to protest and the power that determined Thai youth groups have had in invoking real change, as can be seen in other part’s of Thailand’s history. When teaching in Thailand, as a member of the younger generation, it will be important to be a part of these steps forward by conveying, wherever possible, these inclusive attitudes.

[Rebecca Oxley]

This is an important article and seems to contain an interesting discussion of democracy and the Lèse-Majesté laws. It shows the power that the younger generations can and have had in evoking change in Thai society. Further, it reminds us of the areas in which Thai culture can be very different to ours in the west and the importance of exercising caution with regards to discussions of the Thai monarchy when we are out there.

[Natan Ornadel]

https://www.devex.com/news/while-aid-focuses-on-refugees-thailand-s-hill-tribes-are-forgotten-102869

Title: While aid focusses on Thailand’s refugees, Thailand’s Hill Tribes are forgotten; 20/04/22

This article focusses on the Karen Hill tribe, a large ethnic minority in Thailand comprising around 1 million people. Karen villages are found all over northern Thailand, though this article discusses one particular village, Ban Mae Khit, in the Mae Hong Son province, in depth. The struggles of this village are multifaceted. First of all, there is insufficient investment in infrastructure in Ban Mae Khit, in particular structures such as dams to ensure adequate water supply for rice cultivation. With food insecurity, opportunities to complete the levels of education required for social mobility are reduced, so this is a serious threat to the village both now and in the future. Second, this lack of investment is connected to a humanitarian approach that has prioritised refugees over Karen villages. According to the UNHCR, Thailand currently holds over 90,000 refugees, most of whom fled persecution in Myanmar. These communities absolutely require support, but the author argues this crisis has led Hill tribes to become ‘forgotten communities.’

At the heart of this piece is an important point about inequality in the allocation of resources. Thailand is not poor by international standards, having been declared an upper-middle income country as of 2011. However, the growth of Thai wealth has been concentrated in tourist hubs such as Bangkok and Phuket, and many rural communities have been untouched by these gains. The challenge is to equitably redistribute these gains to maintain reasonable living standards across the country.

This notion of inequality will be important to consider as somebody coming to Thailand to teach English as a second language in a rural area, but also somebody hoping to visit Thailand’s popular landmarks as a tourist. This will expose me to both of these aspects of Thai society, and will force me to be conscious of the country’s inequality. This problem is central to the programme I am joining. By teaching English to children in rural areas whose access to English speakers is limited, I hope to contribute to providing the necessary tools to raise the future opportunities available to children in rural Thailand.

[Natan Ornadel]

Hey Rebecca,
This was a great summary and an interesting article. It’s interesting to note that despite the country’s reputation for being progressive on sexuality and gender, fundamental rights such as same-sex marriage are not protected by law. I totally agree with you that this election as well as the popular pride event in Bangkok represent a desire amongst the people for legal reform. I also really like your perspective that in our position as English teachers in rural Thailand we have the opportunity to convey inclusive attitudes and demonstrate the value of diversity.

[Catherine Jones]

I really enjoyed reading your post on this article Kholofelo! I think you’ve summarised the key information really well whilst also providing interesting points. I particularly liked how you added your own perspective and how this will impact you as an English teacher in Thailand.

[Anna Long]

Article link: Sumriddetchkajorn, K et al. (2019), “Universal health coverage and primary care, Thailand. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6560367/#:~:text=Thailand%27s%20policy%20on%20universal%20health,however%2C%20the%20policy%20faces%20challenges. (Accessed 22/06/2023)

As someone who is living in Thailand for two months, it is important for me to know about the Thai healthcare system. Although I expect the resources and practices to be slightly different to the UK, in the event that I did need medical assistance, it is reassuring to know that I can get the care and medical attention I need. I am also interested to know what the main health concerns that are put pressure on the Thai healthcare system.

The article I have chosen provides an introduction to the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) that was introduced in Thailand in 2002 as well as the primary care in the country. The policy was called for as there were previously four different types of medical policies a citizen was entitled to depending on which sector they worked in, however this missed target groups, especially those who were informally employed. Therefore, to ensure that the entirety of the Thai population had access to healthcare they created UHC which. Is financed from public money however there are questions over how to sustainably and efficiently to continue the system.

Along with an ageing population and health issues that are seen across the world, Thailand has the world’s second highest death rate in road accidents due to poor enforcement of road and vehicle safety laws. Air pollution is also worsening in cities and towns and the extreme differences is wet and dry weather that are becoming more severe and frequent are posing risks to people’s lives.

[Deyaanjali Deb]

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jun/03/optimism-is-high-for-bangkok-pride-after-thai-elections
‘Time of new hope’: Optimism is high for Bangkok Pride after Thai elections
This article explores the sociopolitical scene of Thailand with upcoming elections promising a sweeping reform of how rigid societal views on LGBTQ+ rights currently are. This comes as a surprise to foreigners like me as although on media platforms and pop culture, Thailand has a global reputation for being widely accepting, this is not the case for ordinary citizens. Instead, the romanticised perspective on non-heterosexual relationships seems to hide the fact that LGBT people often lack access to the same level of security and welfare as those outside the community.
Now, the most progressive party Move Forward promises to make more inclusive laws about gender neutrality in legal documents which has huge implications for how Thailand is perceived by the rest of the world. With the youth paving the way for widespread reform by campaigning and activism, for someone travelling to Thailand, this provides new ways in which future generations can take initiative to make change and how I can contribute to this positive impact by incorporating these values into my teaching.

[Deyaanjali Deb]

Hi Anna
Your understanding of the Thai healthcare system is really well thought out in terms of the similarities and differences with the UK healthcare system. As a tropical country, Thailand obviously faces certain health burdens which are not placed on the UK as you mentioned but it is interesting to see how they’ve come up with solutions to overcome this challenge by offering a national system not unlike the NHS. As a teacher and someone who will live and volunteer there for more than a month, it is important for us to be aware of how resources are allocated locally and where we fit into this as people travelling from another country.
Adapting to a different culture is difficult but climate as well as the different health concerns that you picked out are added difficulties which need to be taken into account by us as well.

[Jessica Fotheringham]

I found it very interesting to learn about what is happening to Thailand when facing the ongoing climate crisis. I believe this article is very relevant to out upcoming experience as Hua Hin, where we will spend our first week of training, is a costal city and we may even be able to see some effects of the climate crisis that have already started. In addition, I found this article very interesting as both my parents, as well as the culture course, have told me about the devastating affect the filming of the movie ‘The Beach’ with Leonardo DiCaprio had on the ecology of Maya Bay beach in Thailand. I learnt that it has only recently opened back up to visitors in an attempt to restore it to its natural beauty. Finally, when we are in Thailand it will be very hot and rainy and it will be very interesting to ask locals about the change in temperatures and weather patterns over the years in order to gain more insight into how the global climate crisis is affecting Thailand.

[Jessica Bohan]

“You have awakened a sleeping giant” – The New York Times

This article pertains to the protests that took place in Thailand in 2020 where the young and old took to the streets to protest the lack of democracy in the country. With slogans like “you have awakened a sleeping giant” the protestors were demanding more accountability for the monarchy and the government. With the penalty for criticising the monarchy being 15 years in prison due to lese-majeste laws and the history of violently repressing protests. Although business man Thaksin Shinawatra was elected democratically in 2001 he was forced out of government by the military and retired general Prayuth Chan-ocha who remains Prime Minister to this day. The calls for reform are less radical than in the past, not aiming to abolish the monarchy, but instead set up a more democratic system that holds those in power to account. T
he strict laws about critiquing the monarchy and the governing body is a strange concept to someone who has grown up in a more liberal country but interesting to consider when visiting from abroad. The article also discussing the economic situation in Thailand where inequality has become more prevalent and the 1% own 50% of the wealth, these issues have only been exacerbated by the pandemic and the writer here argues that without real political reform the ‘ideological potency of royalism in Thailand can only be undermined, perhaps irreversibly’. The situation in Thailand is multifaceted with the interaction of the monarchy and a militia government that is opposed to the demands for change they are faced with.

[Catherine Jones]

Article: https://www.bic.moe.go.th/images/stories/book/ed-eng-series/intro-ed08.pdf
Titled: Towards a learning society in Thailand
The article in reference provides us with an introduction to what the education system in Thailand is like. It begins by informing us that there are over 37,000 educational institutions within Thailand, all of which are comprised of nearly 20 million students. The education system within Thailand consists of 12 years of free ‘basic’ education. Albeit 74% of children aged 3-5 receiving early childhood education, ‘official’ education guaranteed by the Constitution begins from the age of 6, which includes 6 years of “Prathom” (primary schooling) and 6 years of “Mattayon” (secondary schooling). The article then goes on to inform us in further detail about the current educational system in Thailand, which stems from the reforms set by the 1999 National Educational Act, which have allowed Thailand’s educational system to grow and flourish since 1999. These new reforms included new organisational structures within the Thai education system, the promotion of decentralisation of administration and called for learner-centred teaching practices within schools.

Within this system, much like the educational system within England, children are required to follow a National Curriculum. However, the article evidences how different these two curriculums are in regards to the subjects taught. As a qualified primary school teacher in England, the familiar shared subjects of the Thai and English curriculums stood out to me: mathematics, science, physical education, religion and art. However, I found the fact that the Thai Education system also provides schooling on careers, culture, health social studies and technology particularly intriguing. I also was captivated by the idea that flexibility is built into the curriculum in order to integrate local wisdom and culture, and that each of the subjects taught was given as much importance as the next, (something I personally believe to be lacking within the British educational system).

The article further states how ‘self-learning’, ‘thinking skills’ and ‘moral development’ are at the heart of the Thai National Curriculum, which it goes on to inform us is supported throughout wider society, in line with Thailand’s promotion of ‘informal education’. For example, the article states how there are many ways for children to further educate themselves and to continue their learning long after the school day has ended. This can be done, it states, through the network of over 800 libraries and 15 science museums, alongside widely broadcasted educational TV and radio channels, which provide direct teaching, as well as enrichment activities, all of which feed into the core values of Thailand’s educational system.

To conclude, this article provides us with an informative introduction into Thailand’s educational system, and may educate those who inadvertently have had misinformed views about what education is like for those living in Thailand. Personally, I believe this article has given me, as a teacher about to teach in Thailand, a very insightful look into what the Thai educational system is like, a glimpse into what to expect teaching there, and has provided me with scope to consider how I can serve the heart of Thailands educational system.

[Pierrette Van Der Meulen]

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jan/26/bangkok-air-pollution-prompts-advice-to-work-from-home

Bangkok air pollution prompts advice to work from home

Bangkok is facing unhealthy levels of air pollution, with people advised to work from home and wear face masks due to the situation. Officials urge people to use public transport instead of private cars and seek to reduce sources of pollution such as outdoor burning and construction activities. Face masks will be distributed to vulnerable people, and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and pollution department will control sources of dust and cooperate with activities that generate dust, such as construction sites or truck transportation. Air pollution is linked to almost a million stillbirths a year, and if the situation worsens, restrictions on transport will be considered.

Agricultural burning and forest fires are major causes of air pollution in Thailand between December and April, particularly in the north-west. PM2.5 levels reached 63.2µg/m³ on Thursday morning, far higher than the WHO annual air quality guideline of 5µg/m³. Dr. Opas Karnkawinpong, the permanent secretary in the health ministry, said that all provincial public health services would monitor the situation and that emergency centres would be opened in provinces experiencing high levels of pollution for more than three consecutive days. The number of patients experiencing pollution-related health problems more than doubled to nearly 213,000 this week, most experiencing respiratory tract problems and symptoms such as dermatitis or eye inflammation. The situation will be monitored closely throughout February and is expected to be better in March.

[Author]

Posts